Leading light or just a decent squad player next season? Maybe Prem football is his thing and the less frenetic pace will suit him, but with Kimbo around and maybe one or two imports in that area, I doubt he'll get the same repeat chances to reverse his poor second half form next year. I'd also be annoyed if he did. Classy player, very quick thinking and feet, except he has no pace. Is the Prem the place for him?
Whitts is brilliant in the fist half of a season but gets poor as the season goes on. with less games and more time to refresh he could be our best player next season, though I'd bet that Kim will be. He will get more time on the ball in the prem so IMO it's not the end of him as yet.
It was strange how Whitts tailed off since xmas. In those last few appearances, even the few sub appearances, he was unrecognisable. Some have said he was sulking because he was no longer 1st choice Personally, I think he burned out. Has hardly missed a game over the past 4 years coupled with the added 'pressure' of being the one who makes it happen took its toll. For the right price anyone is for sale but I dont think we've seen the last of Whitts. He's now got an extended summer to re-group mentally and physically and come back firing again next season. Plus what better incentive does he need than to be playing in the Prem. If he hasn't clicked by the Jan window then he can join Forest... if he hasn't already
Provided he can get his free kicks over the wall! No seriously, everything since he was injured has gone straight into the feet of the wall.
Whitts seems a bit of a loner that needs to feel loved (a bit like Mourinho ). Not the sort of player that will come off the bench and do a job - he needs to start and be made to feel essential to the team. Quiet by nature (when he scores a goal he looks embarrassed), he usually does his best work with someone more belligerent like Gunnar alongside him in the middle - a bit like McPhail when he had Scimeca as a hit man. Don't know what happened after Christmas though - he hasn't been the same player. Maybe he just ran out of gas. Can definitely see him working well in the Prem, but he needs to be Malky's first choice as playmaker. Interesting to see if anyone is brought in like Adam who could fill that spot. Otherwise, Kimbo might oust him anyway. Very interesting.
He has shown class when he went through his purple patch and would do fine in the Prem if he was to regain that form. Was always apt to go missing in games for periods of time before that and has been none existent during the last couple on months he played. Always remember his magnificent goal against Middlesbrough in the FA semi, true bit of magic. Needs to get back playing to his full potential if he wants to figure for us in the PL.
I see him in competition with Mutch in our current system. He can't replace the job Gunnar does and Kimbo in absolute class! Maybe he could do a job out wide left but I think we'll need more pace in the Prem. He's certainly good enough for a PL squad at his best he could be a vital player for us next season. In fairness to Witts he'll offer more assists and goals than Mutch. Mutch is alot more dynamic and looks like he could develop into a top class PL midfielder to me. On Witts post Xmas form we'd struggle to find a Championship club to take him.
I seen no reason to let him go as we need a squad with talent and options. KimBo in the the form of the last two months would walk into the team ahead of him as he is quicker and more direct. However, as cover and a slightly different option we need him. At least that allows us to spend the money made available to us where it is more needed. Can't see us getting anyone in that position that is better for less than a couple million or for them to be on a lower wage. I can see our set up for next season and our approach to the games being different from this season. Fewer games and a bit more time on the ball will suit a number of our players.
Longest running joke on 606 lol FACT I think he'll be a squad player to be honest - cant see him ousting Mutch Kimbo and A N Other as previously stated by others
Malky said when he came here two years back that he wanted to build the team around Whitts. He did that bringing in the likes of Gunnar, Cowie and Mutch for the midfield graft, with Conway and Noone arriving for the wide roles. Kimbo and Velikonja were really speculative gambles. It freed up Whitts to control the midfield and pick a pass. Although we all thought Whitts was played far too deep, the system worked. Whitts wasn't getting amongst the goals himself (except for dead ball kicks), but he influenced the game for others to score. Next season is a totally different ball game. We'll be confronted with a different style of football that will test the ability of Malky and his squad to adapt. Whitts will either be an absolute star or will bomb. I hope Whitts is given a decent chance to shine - but not for too long if he plays anything like he has this past 4 months. Malky will need to be ruthless to survive, and I expect VT to demand that philosophy big time. Tan has openly admitted he's not a football purist by a long chalk and leaves that to others, but he's a winner and having got there, will expect us to be in the Prem for more than just next season.
